[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45698-45699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23018]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration

15 CFR Part 758

[Docket No. 980730200-8200-01]
RIN 0694-AB71


Shipper's Export Declaration Requirements for Exports Valued Less 
Than $2,500

AGENCY: Bureau of Export Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: To further the Bureau of Export Administration's efforts in 
harmonizing the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) with the Bureau 
of the Census Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations, this final rule 
amends the EAR by revising the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) 
provisions to expand the country scope of the $2,500 exemption for 
filing an SED with the Bureau of the Census. This final rule also 
clarifies that the Harmonized Tariff Schedule number may be used in 
lieu of the Schedule B number on the Shipper's Export Declaration. This 
final rule will not significantly affect the paperwork burden on U.S. 
industry.

DATES: This rule is effective August 27, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Crowe, Regulatory Policy 
Division, Bureau of Export Administration, at (202) 482-2440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) is amending the Export 
Administration Regulations (EAR) to further its efforts in harmonizing 
the EAR with the Bureau of the Census Foreign Trade Statistics 
Regulations (FTSR). Specifically, this rule amends 
Sec. 758.1(e)(1)(i)(A) of the EAR by revising the Shipper's Export 
Declaration (SED) requirements for exports of items valued at $2,500 or 
less. With this change, no SED is required for any shipment, other than 
a shipment made under a license issued by BXA or shipments to Cuba, 
Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria, if the shipment is 
valued at $2,500 or less per Schedule B Number. Conforming amendments 
to the FTSR will be published in the Federal Register by the Bureau of 
the Census.
    This rule also amends Secs. 758.1 and 758.3 of the EAR by replacing 
the phrase ``or other number acceptable to the Foreign Trade Division, 
Bureau of the Census'' with the phrase ``or Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
number.'' This will clarify an existing policy of the Bureau of the 
Census to allow exporters to use either the Schedule B number or the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule number when preparing the SED.
    Although the Export Administration Act (EAA) expired on August 20, 
1994, the President invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers 
Act and continued in effect the EAR, and, to the extent permitted by 
law, the provisions of the EAA in Executive Order 12924 of August 19, 
1994, extended by Presidential notice of August 13, 1998 (63 FR 44121, 
August 17, 1998).

Rulemaking Requirements

    1. This interim rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is 
required to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with a collection of information, subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection of information displays a 
currently valid OMB Control Number. This rule involves a collection of 
information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.). This collection has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under control number 0607-0152.
    3. This rule does not contain policies with Federalism implications 
sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under 
Executive Order 12612.
    4. The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, the opportunity for 
public participation, and a delay in effective date, are inapplicable 
because this regulation involves a military and foreign affairs 
function of the United States (Sec. 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1)). Further, no 
other law requires that a notice of proposed rulemaking and an 
opportunity for public comment be given for this rule. Because a notice 
of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are not 
required to be given for this rule under 5 U.S.C. or by any other law, 
the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) are not applicable.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 758

    Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Foreign trade, 
Reporting and record keeping requirements.
    Accordingly, part 758 of the Export Administration Regulations (15 
CFR Parts 730-799) is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 758 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
E.O. 12924, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 917; Notice of August 13, 1997 (62 
FR 43629, August 15, 1997).

PART 758--[AMENDED]

    2. Section 758.1 is amended by revising the paragraph (e)(1)(i)(A) 
to read as follows:


Sec. 758.1  Export clearance requirements

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) Any shipment, other than a shipment made under a license issued 
by BXA or shipments to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan or 
Syria if the shipment is valued at $2,500 or less per Schedule B 
Number. The Schedule B number of an item is shown in the current 
edition of the Schedule B, Statistical Classification of Domestic and 
Foreign Commodities Exported from the United States. As used in this 
paragraph (e), ``shipment'' means all items classified under a single 
Schedule B number (or Harmonized Tariff Schedule number if the Schedule 
B number is not available), shipped on the same carrier, from one 
exporter to one importer. The Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations of 
the Bureau of the Census (15 CFR part 30) shall govern the valuation of 
items when determining whether a shipment meets the $2,500 threshold of 
this paragraph.
* * * * *


Sec. 758.3  [Amended]

    3. Section 758.3 is amended by revising the parenthetical phrase 
``(or other number acceptable to the Foreign Trade Division, Bureau of 
the Census)'' to read ``(or Harmonized Tariff Schedule number)'' in the 
following places:


[[Page 45699]]


Sec. 758.3(f)(1)
Sec. 758.3(g)(1)
Sec. 758.3(g)(2)(i)
Sec. 758.3(g)(2)(ii)--2 references
Sec. 758.3(g)(3)
Sec. 758.3(h)(1)

    Dated: August 18, 1998
R. Roger Majak,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-23018 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P